Jack Milner
A potent Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m heads up the card at Turffontein on Saturday and it really looks likely to produce a thrilling finish.
What makes Race 6 so exceptional is that seven of the 11 runners have raced in Grade 1 events with various outcomes but there are a few Grade 1 winners among them.
What adds to the conundrum is that this race is on the Inside track and that means it will be run around the turn. That could provide assistance to those runners who might find 1000m a touch sharp as the average time for this course is around 1.50 seconds slower than Standside track.
The field includes Dyce, winner of the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, William Robertson, a 1.80-length fifth behind Isivunguvungu in the last year’s Mercury Sprint, Rulership, third is this year’s Grade 1 Computaform Sprint, and Anfields Rocket, winner of last year’s Grade 1 SA Classic.
Dyce comes out as the best weighted runner and if at his best he is undoubtedly the runner to beat. However, after winning the Cape Flying in January, the William Longsword gelding seemed to hit a bump in the road and lost his form.
He was gelded in April and has only had one run since. That was in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville but little can be gleaned from that performance because he stumbled at the start and lost ground, he was never a factor.
However, it is worth noting that Piere Strydom, who was aboard that day, has the ride once again.
The runner who could be best suited to the conditions is Anfields Rocket. He has been racing back in sprints of late and has finished second in two races over 1160m on the Standside track. He has won on the Inside track and has three victories over 1000m.
He is nicely drawn in gate No 2 and has in-form Muzi yeni in the irons.
Anfields Rocket also lost his form for a while but since coming home to Grant Maroun’s yard he seems to be finding his old form again.
Rulership is undoubtedly the 1000m specialist in the line-up and was only beaten 1.50 lengths by Thunderstruck in the Computaform Sprint. Calvin Habib is back on board the Tony Peter-trained runner.
William Robertson is another who has to be included in all bets. While he has not won over 1000m in his 33 starts, this Corne Spies-trained gelding has won at the course. Gavin Lerena has the ride and he should be perfectly primed in what is his third run after a layoff.
But it doesn’t end there and a runner like Cliff Hanger has the ability to make an impact in this line-up.
Race 4 is another Pinnacle Stakes, but this one is over 2600m.
Hard-knocking stayer Prime Example was an impressive last-to-first winner of a 2600m Middle Stakes last month, beating Candice Dawson-trained veteran Raiseahallelujah by a widening 3.25 lengths.
However, Raiseahallelujah renews rivalry on 6kg better terms over the same track and trip with Yeni taking over the reins aboard the seven-year-old son of Querari.
Raiseahallelujah was game in defeat under 62kg last time but with only 50kg on his back this time round so he ought to reverse the form.
Progressive Atarime has, seemingly, benefited from having been gelded. Paul Matchett's charge has won back-to-back 1600m races since returning to action and the hat-trick may well be completed in Race 5 over 1800m, especially with the extra 200m likely to unlock further improvement from the son of New Predator.
Yeni partners Atarime for the first time in a racecourse appearance but that shouldn't deter followers of the lightly raced improver whose momentum is unlikely to be halted by the handicapper's five-point penalty.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 8 Ichacha, 7 Heather's Boy, 3 Flight Engineer, 5 Chariot Of Fire
Race 2: 6 Fireburst, 5 Ancient Wisdom, 2 Future Date, 1 Tipperary
Race 3: 6 Gamer, 7 City Lights, 1 High Queue, 2 Manz Knight
Race 4: 4 Raiseahallelujah, 6 Prime Example, 1 Zeus, 2 Good Council
Race 5: 11 American Biscuit, 2 Atarime, 5 Apache Son, 6 Celtic Rush
Race 6: 6 Anfields Rocket, 1 Dyce, 3 Rulership, 2 William Robertson
Race 7: 7 Brave Viking, 5 Max The Magician, 8 Bob's Your Uncle, 2 Cape Lights
Race 8: 1 We Are The Logans, 2 Turbo Power, 10 Wolf Mountain, 4 Run For Cover
BEST BET
Race 2 No 6 Fireburst
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 11 American Biscuit
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 5x6
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 3, 7, 8
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 1, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 4, 6
Leg 5: 2, 5, 6
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 6
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 1, 6, 7
Leg 3: 4, 6
Leg 4: 2, 5, 11
Leg 5: 1, 3, 6
Leg 6: 5, 7
Leg 7: 1, 2
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 1, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 3: 2, 5, 6, 11
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg 5: 5, 7, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2, 10
JACKPOT 1
R240
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 2: 2, 5, 6, 11
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg 4: 5, 7, 8
JACKPOT 2
R144
Leg 1: 2, 5, 6, 11
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg 3: 5, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 10